A whisky with amazing natural colors and the aromas turned up to 11; polished red apples, mixed peels, currant, clove, peppercorn, and crinkly dried red chiles. Sweet raspberry fudge initially, then the mouth-drawing high alcohol bites, sending it spiraling through clove, plum skins, baked fruit crumble, cookies, charred oak, nutty toffee, black cherry, and coffee grounds. Some single cask whisky can be a rollercoaster: this is the whole theme park! (282 bottles)—

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Winter 2020)

Orange peel, dried ginger, pineapple, baking spices, vanilla, and cherry syrup on the nose. With water, the grain and sweetness develop into a layered confection of honey, saffron, and sweet nuts: a bite of baklava. The palate is spiced and full, a touch fruity with dried orange peel and figs, spiced with dried ginger and black pepper, and richly nutty with toasted oak. There’s a visceral character of chewiness in the mouth and warmth sliding through the chest, a sensation that commands you to spend time enjoying the dram. (282 bottles)

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Spring 2021)

The longer you leave this, the smokier it gets; earthy peat, heavy smoke, hints of bacon fat and steaming asphalt, with blossom honey, vanilla fudge, and lemonade. Dense flavors of honey, vanilla, caramel, sweet satsuma, Jelly Tots, and lime Fruit Pastilles, with mild ginger, pepper, and clove, as smoke builds in the throat. Molten caramel and lemon peel finish, scorched by peat smoke. A magnificent use of Islay casks.

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Winter 2020)

The PX sherry hogshead finish has imbued a dark sweetness and punchy spices. A nose of raisins, mixed peel, ground ginger, and dark forest honey is molasses-like, with golden syrup loaf, cinnamon, and tamarind. Slightly sticky mouthfeel with dates, apple, pear, and a dark rum sweetness, it crests with a prolonged wave of nippy spices—especially clove—followed by baked citrus, banoffee pie, pecan, and squashed ripe bananas. (162 bottles)

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Winter 2021)

This kosher whisky has abundant flavors from both the bourbon and shaved, toasted, and re-charred (STR) casks. Golden syrup, caramel, pastry, vanilla, and marshmallow on the nose with floral top notes, hints of dried apple, and bold nutmeg, cinnamon, and pepper. A firm, juicy-sweet palate with caramel, vanilla, shortbread, honey, orange, nectarine, pepper, nougat, and almond. The finish is short, sweet, and lightly spiced. Editors' Choice

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Fall 2020)

M&H (Milk & Honey), founded in 2013, is Israel’s first whisky distillery. This expression and its sibling bottling Double Cask are M&H’s first to hit the U.S. Aged 2 years in bourbon, STR (shaved, toasted, and re-charred), and Islay casks, its nose offers candied lemon, lime leaf, tea, and licorice. The palate is soft, fruity, and spiced, with chocolate and light peat. The finish is spiced and lightly peated, with tropical fruit accents. Brilliant texture and an unusual spice profile.

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Summer 2020)

Cherry, cranberry, strawberry, raspberry sorbet, plum skin, juicy sultana, sweet barley notes, and a smudge of fine spices indicate the influence of the Israeli red wine casks. The palate is fruity but not sweet, with red grape, pepper, malt, vinous notes, and ascendant peppery oak spices, then a dry finish of vanilla cream, raspberry cordial, and spices. Delicious, but after the first sip, further flavor shifts are subtle.

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Winter 2020)

Toasted malt, fresh grapefruit and lemon, coconut, vanilla, honeysuckle, poached pears, saline, candle wax, and campfire smoke on the nose. Despite the high proof, the mouthfeel is silky, fizzing with lemon and dry with chalky minerality, though savory malt and a smoky backbone make up the meat of the flavors. The finish is ashy, with oak char, coffee bean, and the slight tang of lemon peel. (229 bottles)

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Summer 2021)

This is one of those delightful whiskies where the aromas leap from the glass; a battle of citrus between lime, pineapple, and clementine, obvious rum notes, and a strong hit of pepper. A fast-paced turnover of brown sugar, candied lemon and lime slices, vanilla fudge, pepper, and ground ginger flavors, while the latter stages race through nectarine, pear, banana-flavored candy, tropical fruits, and notes of cookie dough. Utterly electrifying! €100

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Summer 2021)

Tomer Goren, head distiller at Milk & Honey Distillery in Tel Aviv, excels at warm climate single malt production under the intensity of the Mediterranean sun. His ethos is beautifully captured within this kosher-certified flagship bottling, matured in bourbon and shaved, toasted, and re-charred casks. It exudes a nose of golden syrup, vanilla, marshmallow, jasmine, dried apple, nutmeg, cinnamon, and pepper. Flavorful and juicy, the palate has satisfying depth, with caramel, vanilla, shortbread, honey, and orange, daubed with vivaciously spicy black pepper. Number 20 in the 2020 Top 20

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Winter 2020)

Using kosher-certified oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, this Tel Avivian whisky evokes dried strawberry, plum pudding, and black cherry aromas, with strong peppercorn notes and a dusting of cocoa powder. With early red fruits and black cherry, this glides through milky coffee and chocolate pudding, buffeted by growing spices and a rasp of oak char, before a pleasant finish of baking chocolate and bourbon biscuits.

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Fall 2020)

Head distiller Tomer Goren took parcels of bourbon and shaved, toasted, and re-charred (STR) cask whisky and finished them in French Limousin oak cognac casks, delivering a nose of chocolate brownie, mixed baking fruit, and pepper. The palate delivers vanilla essence, malty sweetness, and butterscotch, with young green fruits, toffee, and honeycomb, then concludes with notes of nutmeg and clove just as the mouthfeel develops a luxurious velvety and slightly oily texture.

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Summer 2021)

Clean fresh malt character manifests as a whole host of banana products: chips, bread, and pudding with Nilla wafers; there are also coconut shavings, sliced almonds, confectioners’ sugar, and lemon and lime peels. Though youth peeks through with heat on the palate, the bright flavors of lemon, banana, coconut, and a whole bouquet of violets and roses provide balance and lead into a clean short finish. A little more time and this whisky won’t just bloom—it’ll flourish. (1,560 bottles)

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Summer 2020)

A floral, fruity nose with apricot, mango, sour lemon, and snuff tobacco on this chardonnay cask-finished whisky. Tangerine flesh, honey, sweet confectioner’s sugar, vanilla fudge, and a dusting of earthy spices, it’s best to imbibe at full strength as this is smooth and easy to drink. Tel Aviv’s climate exacts an appreciable angels’ share, but it would be fascinating to revisit this style once the whisky has mellowed further.

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Summer 2021)

Turbocharged sour cherry aromas are propelled from the glass by high-strength alcohol, leaving a backwash of toffee, coffee grounds, dunnage, and pepper. After its 6-month finish in a kosher Rimon Winery barrel, it’s become a skittish prospect of fiery pomegranate and rose-hip jelly, its mighty strength runs amok with the spices among the sourness of dark fruits. Use water to emphasize the pleasurable maraschino cherry notes.

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Summer 2021)